Africa

• 6 March 2006
  AFRICA/ RD CONGO - “What the country needs is authentic Rule of Law” say Congo's Catholic Bishops in view of approaching general elections Kinshasa (Fides Service)- “After 45 years of delay and 15 year of a pointlessly long period of transition, the people of Congo hope with the coming elections to have at last in 2006 a rule of law” the Standing Commi ...
• 3 March 2006
  AFRICA - A new wave of drought could affect children at risk for malnutrition and disease Rome (Fides Service) - According to the World Food Programme WFP the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF living conditions of people in east Africa, in particular children at risk of malnutrition and disease, may w ...
• 3 March 2006
  AFRICA/KENYA - It is necessary to tackle not only the present famine emergency but also Kenya’s chronic hunger situation which affects 33% of the population and is caused by structural problems say Catholic Religious Superiors Nairobi (Fides Service)- In a message on the present serious food shortage in Kenya the country's Conference of Catholic Religious Superiors warns “It would be short-sighted to raise our voice at this peak of acute sta ...
• 3 March 2006
  AFRICA/KENYA - Land rights, youth and development, peace and reconciliation, respect for human dignity, and integrity in leadership: issues for Lenten reflection proposed by Catholic Bishops’ National Justice Peace Commission: Nairobi (Fides Service) - “Called to dwell in unity, peace and freedom” is the title of this year’s national annual Lenten Campaign organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace. The phrase ...
• 2 March 2006
  AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - Thousands of refugees flee to Chad to escape violence in the north west of the Central African Republic Bangui (Fides Service)- Increasing numbers Central Africans are seeking refuge in Chad to escape a situation of serious insecurity in the north west of the Central African Republic. According to the Red Cross in Chad r ...
• 2 March 2006
  AFRICA/CÔTE D' IVOIRE - Enthusiasm in Côte d'Ivoire for first summit meeting of leaders in crisis which has lasted since 2002 Abidjan (Fides Service)- “At last an important step towards settling the Ivorian crisis” say local Church sources with regard to the summit held 28 February in Yamoussoukro the political capital of Côte d'Ivoire. � ...
• 1 March 2006
  AFRICA/ANGOLA - Many disadvantaged minors in Angola’s larger cities get caught in crime, the local Catholic Church works to free them Luanda (Fides Service) - Angola’s National Crime Investigation Office recently expressed concern for the growing number of minors in large cities caught up in criminal activity. Local Catholic Church sources in the cap ...
• 1 March 2006
  AFRICA/KENYA - Growing drug consumption in Kenya with “peddlers targeting children” says local Catholic missionary Nairobi (Fides Service)- “In recent years Kenya has become a centre not only for drug transit but also for increasing drug abuse” says Italian Consolata missionary Fr Eugenio Ferrari National Director of the Pontific ...
• 1 March 2006
  AFRICA/SUDAN - Flow of refugees in both directions between Chad and Sudan. Growing concern in the international community Khartoum (Fides Service) - There is increasing concern for the situation of insecurity on the Sudan Chad border after the United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR said it was registering movement of people in bo ...
• 27 February 2006
  AFRICA/DR CONGO - A free and independent press in support of Congo’s fledgling democracy, La Prospérité daily newspaper sets the example Kinshasa (Fides Service) - For the past 5 years La Prospérité daily newspaper printed in Kinshasa strives to offer the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo information as impartial as possible and in such as way ...
• 27 February 2006
  AFRICA/UGANDA - “In depth analysis of the vote shows some change in those in power”: 80 members of parliament lost their seats Kampala (Fides Service)- “President Museveni’s victory did not come as a surprise but in depth analysis of the elections for parliament reveals that not all remained as it was. In fact 80 outgoing MPs were not re-ele ...
• 24 February 2006
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - “The best curb for violence is authentic democracy and rule of law” says Archbishop Onaiyekan, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria Abuja (Fides Service) - From Abuja the capital of Nigeria where over 130 people have been killed in five days of riots the Catholic Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan says “it is incorrect to speak of a conflict of ...
• 24 February 2006
  AFRICA/ALGERIA - In Algeria there is still an emergency for Sahrawi refugee suffering consequences of serious flood Algiers (Fides Service) - Two Italian and Portuguese cargo aircraft transported some 20 tons of tents to the western Algerian region of Tindouf as part of operations to supply emergency homes in three camps for more than ...
• 23 February 2006
  AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - Two stories among many: 200,000 homeless people after government’s Murambatsvina ‘Restore Order’ operation Harare (Fides Service)- The operation Restore Order started in Harare and other cities on 19 May 2005 by the Zimbabwe government under the pretext of ridding the cities of black market trade and illegal building forced a ...
• 23 February 2006
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Polling stations open for presidential and parliamentary elections. What problems face the next President? Kampala (Agenzia Fides)- The polling stations opened today for presidential and parliamentary elections (see Fides 22 February 2006). “After the tension of the past few days, today all is calm” said local Church sour ...